Car v. motorcycle in DeLand sends two to hospitals

PHOTO COURTESY DELAND FIRE DEPARTMENT
Airlifted — One person was airlifted from the crash scene in DeLand Oct. 12, after a car and a motorcycle collided. Both riders on the motorcycle were transported to hospitals.

Fire Department cautions motorists to watch out for bikers

By Jennifer Horton
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Oct 13, 2009 - 8:19:55pm

At 11:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12, at the intersection of Garfield Avenue and Old Daytona Road, a car and a motorcycle collided.

Deputy Chief Mark Harper of the DeLand Fire Department said the couple two people riding the motorcycle were injured severely enough to require transport to the hospital, with one of them airlifted by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. No further information was available about their condition.

The couple on the motorcycle, both in their 60s, were from Decatur, Ill. and were in critical condition at Halifax Health in Daytona Beach, Oct. 14.

The occupants of the car were not injured.

James Eddy drove up to the intersection just after the crash. He said the driver of the motorcycle was still in motion, sliding across the pavement.

"All I saw was him slide," Eddy said.

Eddy noted two people in distress, a man and a woman. He said both had head wounds, and said neither rider was wearing a helmet.

Eddy stopped, got out of his car, and tried to help.

"What really got me was that no one would help," he said. "There were 15 people standing around."

Born in MIami, Eddy retired to DeLand recently after 30 years of commercial crab fishing in the Pacific Northwest. He said can't understand why Florida doesn't require motorcyclists to wear helmets.

"I looked at the crack on his head and I could see his skull," Eddy said. "That wouldn't have happened if he was wearing a helmet."

He continued, "She had a huge gash on the side of her head from where she hit the windshield of the car. That wouldn't have happened if she was wearing a helmet. ... I just don't understand why there isn't a helmet law."

Eddy might not have happened upon the crash scene had he not left his wallet at home and turned around to get it.

Eddy said his years on a crab boat helped him to keep his cool and offer assistance. Crab fishing is among the world's deadliest jobs, sometimes portrayed on the Discovery Channel show World's Deadliest Catch.

"You work on a fishing boat and you learn that you can't panic," Eddy said. "I made sure the guy was breathing. She was groaning and moving around, but he wasn't."

Once he knew the man was breathing, Eddy said he covered him with a borrowed shirt, and tried to get the man to talk, or acknowledge him in some way.

"I tried to make him comfortable and keep him talking," he said.

The paramedics arrived quickly and took over.

"Their response time was excellent," he said.

Harper said no new information is available about the accident or the condition of the two injured riders.

Details of the crash could not be confirmed. As this story was written, the Florida Highway Patrol, which is handling the incident, had not responded to a request for information.

Deputy Fire Chief Harper reminded the community that, especially during the upcoming week, when thousands of motorcycle-riding visitors will flock to Volusia County for Biketoberfest, people should be extra vigilant on the roads.

"In light of the approaching Biketoberfest, the DeLand Fire Department wants to remind all auto operators to be aware of the increase in motorcycles in the area," Harper said. "The National Association of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators has a slogan that states, 'Look Twice – Save A Life, Motorcycles Are Everywhere.'”

— jen@beacononlinenews.com

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